I could really use some help on choosing an e-book reader. I never thought about getting one until recently when the Kindle came out and I started researching them, and then I found that the more I learn, the more I get pulled in different directions. Below are some of my thoughts based on what Iíve learned, but never having seen most of these Iím finding it to be a very difficult decision.

First of all, I am a Mac user without easy access to a PC, and I will mostly just be using this to read novels.

1) The Kindle. I love the idea of not needing a computer to download books, and the prices of books seems fair. Plus, being able to read magazines on it seems like a real bonus, but I hate the idea of being locked into Amazon, and it does look really ugly. No support for pdf is also a slight bummer, but not a deal breaker. The $400 for this would be at the top of my budget.

2) The Sony 505. I saw this in person at Borders and it is very pretty, and feels perfect in the hand. I hate that there is no Mac support, but am I correct that I can buy books from Mobipocket instead? Do I have to go through a conversion process, or can I just see the Sony as a USB drive and drag and drop? If I move on to another device later (like the Cybook) would I be able to still read the books I buy? And is there any way for me to take advantage of their 100 free classics offer?

3) The Cybook Gen 3. This is the device I am leaning toward. I like the idea of it being easy to use on a Mac and able to read more formats. Plus it is small and slick. Worrying about purchase and support is what is holding me up. A) I really like the NAEB deal at $375 for a modified deluxe package and I want to order from them, but from the posts Iíve read they donít seem to quite have their act together. They donít have the ability for anyone to purchase yet, and the date for this to happen keeps moving back. How do we know that they will have any customer support if something goes wrong with the unit? B) Even though it will be more expensive Iím considering ordering direct from Bookeen, but again, from the posts Iíve read it seems like this can be a bit problematic, and they arenít delivering (on time anyway)

Thanks for your thoughts.

HarryT

12-08-2007, 11:53 AM

2) The Sony 505. I saw this in person at Borders and it is very pretty, and feels perfect in the hand. I hate that there is no Mac support, but am I correct that I can buy books from Mobipocket instead? Do I have to go through a conversion process, or can I just see the Sony as a USB drive and drag and drop? If I move on to another device later (like the Cybook) would I be able to still read the books I buy? And is there any way for me to take advantage of their 100 free classics offer?

No, you can't buy Mobi books for the Sony. Sony have their own format (BBeB). You can, however, buy Microsoft Reader (LIT) books and convert those for the Sony, but you need a Windows machine to actually buy LIT books. You also need a Windows system to be able to buy books from Sony's Connect store, including the free ones ("Bootcamp" works fine for this on a Mac).

3) The Cybook Gen 3. This is the device I am leaning toward. I like the idea of it being easy to use on a Mac and able to read more formats. Plus it is small and slick. Worrying about purchase and support is what is holding me up. A) I really like the NAEB deal at $375 for a modified deluxe package and I want to order from them, but from the posts I’ve read they don’t seem to quite have their act together. They don’t have the ability for anyone to purchase yet, and the date for this to happen keeps moving back. How do we know that they will have any customer support if something goes wrong with the unit? B) Even though it will be more expensive I’m considering ordering direct from Bookeen, but again, from the posts I’ve read it seems like this can be a bit problematic, and they aren’t delivering (on time anyway)

I have a Gen3 and am VERY happy with it indeed. A truly excellent machine. I wouldn't worry about the ordering - it's a new device and production is still "ramping up". Shipments are due to restart this coming Monday.

I wouldn't bother with the "Deluxe" package. Buy the basic Gen3 and the leather cover. The other stuff you get in the Deluxe package really isn't worth the money.

Gerry

12-08-2007, 12:10 PM

Well, that certainly kills the possibility of buying the Sony. What do you think of the Cybook vs the Kindle?

-Gerry

HarryT

12-08-2007, 12:19 PM

I'm really not the best person to ask about that, since the Kindle isn't available to buy outside the US. Its wireless download system certainly seems very innovative, and the ability to buy books so painlessly is obviously a "plus" too. I think the Gen3 is a much more physically attractive reader, but I haven't seen a Kindle "in the flesh" and often pictures don't really give you the true impression of what a device is like.

Yes, the Kindle looks like a very nice machine indeed. Were I able to buy one, I'd probably do so. Would I buy a Kindle instead of a Gen3? No, I personally wouldn't; I'd buy both, but I'm a gadget freak :).

PamG

12-08-2007, 12:48 PM

You need an ebook reader that supports the mobipocket format.
As long as it does that it doesn't matter that your computer is a Mac or runs Linux, etc. .
Here are the recent posts from the mobipocket forum for both the Kindle and the Cybook :http://www.mobipocket.com/forum/viewforum.php?f=23

mrkai

12-08-2007, 02:27 PM

I have a mac and actually have the 505.

It works great, really. libprs500 software, for managing books and such from the internet and converting documents to sony's format isn't that bad. Not as polished as a mac user might like/be used to, but it is a free product.

As for Sony Connect...you do need windows for this, sadly. I use VMWare fusion or Boot Camp in this case. If you have a PowerPC Mac tho..may want to get a kindle. its not pretty and the screen isn't quite as nice as the Sony devices, but you'll not have problems buying books.

I don't know anything about the Gen3.

-K

HarryT

12-08-2007, 02:37 PM

I have a mac and actually have the 505.

It works great, really. libprs500 software, for managing books and such from the internet and converting documents to sony's format isn't that bad. Not as polished as a mac user might like/be used to, but it is a free product.

What legal sources of commercial e-Books are there which can be used with the Sony on a Mac WITHOUT any Windows-based conversion tools? I'm aware, of course, of the multi-format books from Fictionwise, but what else is there?

Brad

12-08-2007, 03:57 PM

Which one should a Mac user choose?

Gerry, I am a Mac user and I was facing that same question.

It seems to me there are too many hoops to jump through to use a Sony. I saw a Sony reader at Best Buy and I like the screen and the price but, software aside, I don't like being bound to Sony to buy books. Sony is not a bookseller.

I have some reservations about the physical layout of the Kindle, even though it has some really neat abilities.

I have placed an order for a Cybook. I wanted simple operation and I did not want to be tied down to only one bookseller. I read a lot of public domain ebooks and I wanted to be able to import txt and html files natively and not have to rely on proprietary and/or third party software to convert formats. That is why the Cybook won me over.

I am hoping that electronic newspapers and magazines will become popular enough on Kindle that the publishers will branch out and offer editions in other formats through the independent ebooksellers.

HarryT

12-09-2007, 05:31 AM

I am hoping that electronic newspapers and magazines will become popular enough on Kindle that the publishers will branch out and offer editions in other formats through the independent ebooksellers.

There's already a reasonable selection of magazines (especially SF and mystery magazines) available in multiple formats, DRM-free, from http://www.fictionwise.com . These can be read on any of the popular bookreaders - Sony, Gen3, or Kindle.

Brad

12-09-2007, 09:02 AM

There's already a reasonable selection of magazines (especially SF and mystery magazines) available in multiple formats, DRM-free, from http://www.fictionwise.com . These can be read on any of the popular bookreaders - Sony, Gen3, or Kindle.

Fictionwise does a great job with what they have available. My hope is that the 'Kindle-effect' will spread newspapers and news-type magazines to Fictionwise after the publishers see some success with Kindle editions. There are several regional (US) newspapers I would like to subscribe too electronically.

Back to the Mac compatibility thing: it seems like Amazon and Bookeen (Cybook) went out of their way to make their readers cross platform compatible. Sony seems to have lost the hunt on that score but they seem more interested in locking users in to their device and store. iRex surprises me because at the price they are asking you would think they would insure cross platform compatibility.

There is a rumor that Apple will come out with a tablet computer and I had been holding off because of that, but that rumor has been knocking around for a couple of years now and I'm just not going to wait for vaporware. Hence my decision to try the Cybook with my Mac.

As a side note - because the Cybook does not need special software on my computer for ebook conversion it means that I can use any of my 3 computers to add ebooks to it as I find them. I'm not just tied to a computer that has their software pre-installed. I like that flexibility.

Krystian Galaj

12-09-2007, 09:02 AM

As for Gen3 on the Mac, you connect it to USB, it mounts as a new disk, read/write, and you can copy all you want between it and the Mac.

But if you want to buy and download Mobipocket books from their store, I'm not sure if that's possible on the Mac. It's not a Gen3 issue really, you should get PID from Gen3, add it to your user account on Mobipocket, download all books after this PID is added, and then you can just copy them from Mac to Gen3, and they will work. I'm not sure if the process of buying and downloading is doable on a Mac.

preetamrai

12-09-2007, 09:52 AM

Yes, you can't buy books on the Mac. The mobipocket client is Windows only. I am running windows on my mac using parallels and I have installed the mobipocket client on windows.

HarryT

12-09-2007, 10:06 AM

Yes, you can't buy books on the Mac. The mobipocket client is Windows only. I am running windows on my mac using parallels and I have installed the mobipocket client on windows.

I'm sorry, but this is nonsense!

You do NOT need to use the Windows Mobipocket Reader to buy books. You can buy books directly from the website of ANY eBook store selling Mobi-format books. All you need is a web browser.

mocelet

12-09-2007, 12:13 PM

iRex surprises me because at the price they are asking you would think they would insure cross platform compatibility.

In what way is the iLiad not cross platform? There is the Companion Software which is Windows only, but (just about) no-one uses it. The WiFi file transfer uses a windows style network share, but Samba on Linux or OSX will work just as well.

Most of the iLiad interaction is via the USB cable, where it looks like a USB disk to any OS that supports it.

csmith75

12-09-2007, 12:43 PM

I'm a Mac user, but I always keep a PC around for these exact situations. I purchased the Sony 505 (has not arrived yet) and I plan on using the libprs500 software when I'm away from home with just my Mac. Plus I purchase a lot of books from Fictionwise as well. If I find that it's too painful on the Mac, I'll just install Windows on my Macbook. I'm hoping that if I need to buy a book when I only have my Mac, I can just buy the .lit version from Fictionwise and convert.

csmith75

12-09-2007, 12:47 PM

No, you can't buy Mobi books for the Sony. Sony have their own format (BBeB). You can, however, buy Microsoft Reader (LIT) books and convert those for the Sony, but you need a Windows machine to actually buy LIT books. You also need a Windows system to be able to buy books from Sony's Connect store, including the free ones ("Bootcamp" works fine for this on a Mac).

You have to use a Windows machine to buy LIT books? I was counting on just being able to download LIT books from Fictionwise on my Mac.

wallcraft

12-09-2007, 01:01 PM

You do NOT need to use the Windows Mobipocket Reader to buy books. You can buy books directly from the website of ANY eBook store selling Mobi-format books. All you need is a web browser. I agree. If you have a Windows PC, then using the MobiPocket Reader to manage your purchased MOBI e-books and handheld devices can be convenient, but it isn't even necessary on a PC and buying MobiPocket e-books from a Linux or Mac Desktop is very easy. This is the case for the Cybook and the iLiad, and probably for PDA's too.

mores

12-09-2007, 01:17 PM

convertlit is also available for mac, so i don't think you need a PC for anything.

hidari

12-09-2007, 01:32 PM

AND stop BEING PART OF A CULT...

Hi There,

I could really use some help on choosing an e-book reader. I never thought about getting one until recently when the Kindle came out and I started researching them, and then I found that the more I learn, the more I get pulled in different directions. Below are some of my thoughts based on what Iíve learned, but never having seen most of these Iím finding it to be a very difficult decision.

First of all, I am a Mac user without easy access to a PC, and I will mostly just be using this to read novels.

1) The Kindle. I love the idea of not needing a computer to download books, and the prices of books seems fair. Plus, being able to read magazines on it seems like a real bonus, but I hate the idea of being locked into Amazon, and it does look really ugly. No support for pdf is also a slight bummer, but not a deal breaker. The $400 for this would be at the top of my budget.

2) The Sony 505. I saw this in person at Borders and it is very pretty, and feels perfect in the hand. I hate that there is no Mac support, but am I correct that I can buy books from Mobipocket instead? Do I have to go through a conversion process, or can I just see the Sony as a USB drive and drag and drop? If I move on to another device later (like the Cybook) would I be able to still read the books I buy? And is there any way for me to take advantage of their 100 free classics offer?

3) The Cybook Gen 3. This is the device I am leaning toward. I like the idea of it being easy to use on a Mac and able to read more formats. Plus it is small and slick. Worrying about purchase and support is what is holding me up. A) I really like the NAEB deal at $375 for a modified deluxe package and I want to order from them, but from the posts Iíve read they donít seem to quite have their act together. They donít have the ability for anyone to purchase yet, and the date for this to happen keeps moving back. How do we know that they will have any customer support if something goes wrong with the unit? B) Even though it will be more expensive Iím considering ordering direct from Bookeen, but again, from the posts Iíve read it seems like this can be a bit problematic, and they arenít delivering (on time anyway)

Thanks for your thoughts.

HarryT

12-09-2007, 01:35 PM

You have to use a Windows machine to buy LIT books? I was counting on just being able to download LIT books from Fictionwise on my Mac.

I'm afraid you won't be able to do that (unless you run "Bootcamp" on your Mac). You need to have an "activated" copy of Microsoft Reader installed on your Windows machine - and Internet Explorer - in order to be able to purchase LIT books.

HarryT

12-09-2007, 01:36 PM

convertlit is also available for mac, so i don't think you need a PC for anything.

No, I'm afraid you're wrong. You can run "ConvertLIT" on the Mac, yes, but in order to buy the LIT files in the first place you need a Windows machine.

hidari

12-09-2007, 01:39 PM

That is a pity for The MACHEADS. They might actually ask a friend to borrow their PC. I am sure if one does..Then one will burn for eternity....That is IF they are already a MAC HEAD..

csmith75

12-09-2007, 01:53 PM

I'm afraid you won't be able to do that (unless you run "Bootcamp" on your Mac). You need to have an "activated" copy of Microsoft Reader installed on your Windows machine - and Internet Explorer - in order to be able to purchase LIT books.

I guess the easiest way for me is to just install Windows on my laptop or just buy them on my PC then...thanks!

HarryT

12-09-2007, 01:54 PM

That is a pity for The MACHEADS. They might actually ask a friend to borrow their PC. I am sure if one does..Then one will burn for eternity....That is IF they are already a MAC HEAD..

Please don't be rude. We can express opinions without having to insult other people.

Thank you.

mores

12-09-2007, 02:04 PM

hmm, I haven't tested it because I do not buy LIT files, but you might be able to run MS Reader with Crossover for Mac.
No need for Bootcamp or a dedicated windows partition.

hidari

12-09-2007, 02:19 PM

I forgot Harry T. You are one of the Gods of this Mobile Read. A most humble Apology. I will refrain from having a brain from now on. Was just pushing a button. Forgot No humor. Only truth.

Your Idiot,

hidari

Please don't be rude. We can express opinions without having to insult other people.

Thank you.

mrkai

12-09-2007, 02:22 PM

I forgot Harry T. You are one of the Gods of this Mobile Read. A most humble Apology. I will refrain from having a brain from now on. Was just pushing a button. Forgot No humor. Only truth.

Your Idiot,

hidari

...about requiring a machine that runs a Windows OS?

Macintosh computers have been able to do this for years...or are you unaware of this?

hidari

12-09-2007, 02:26 PM

I was making a joke. Yes. I am. I think Macs are good Computers. Just I meet A Hoard of Mac USERS that act like they have some "inside" information. As IF THEY know and the rest of the world does not. I had a Mac. good Machine. I prefer PCs. but IF you like a MAC fine: Yet, I meet many Mac users that get Evangelical about their machine. So I puke on the side. As one member said. They are really Apples and Oranges: Macs and PCs..Yet, I meet never ending army of MACHEADS...so I push a button....

schmidt349

12-09-2007, 02:33 PM

As a Mac/Kindle user, I've been pretty pleased with the experience so far... you can buy books directly off Whispernet, so you don't even need a computer to complete your purchases, and you can read unencrypted Mobipocket files. One feature that seems to be overlooked a lot is the ability to send pdfs, htmls, and other sorts of files to a special email address and have them converted and sent straight to your Kindle via Whispernet (you do get dinged a dime every time, though).

kovidgoyal

12-09-2007, 02:48 PM

hmm, I haven't tested it because I do not buy LIT files, but you might be able to run MS Reader with Crossover for Mac.
No need for Bootcamp or a dedicated windows partition.

You can run MSReader using WINE in linux, but I've never managed to get it activated, which is what you need to strip the DRM from LIT files.

Alexander Turcic

12-09-2007, 05:11 PM

Yet, I meet never ending army of MACHEADS...so I push a button....

:offtopic:

Alexander Turcic

12-09-2007, 05:14 PM

I forgot Harry T. You are one of the Gods of this Mobile Read.

You are free to apotheosize whomever you want, but please do so with respect and dignity. We don't need any trolling here. :thanks:

JSWolf

12-09-2007, 05:23 PM

convertlit is also available for mac, so i don't think you need a PC for anything.
You need the Windows system to actually download the DRM laden MS Reader ebooks.

Gerry

12-09-2007, 11:18 PM

Thank you all for sharing your experience. Clearly everyone on this site is generous with their time and insight!

I'll be placing an order for a Cybook tomorrow.

Gerry

prun

12-10-2007, 10:25 AM

Hi Gerry,

I am a Mac fan - MacBook Pro - and a SONY PRS-505 happy owner. To use PC-only applications I installed Parrallels on my Mac and it works wonderfully. With its [Coherence] feature, it becomes seamless to me if I am opening a Mac or PC application.

In other words, I open the ebook Library application from Sony directly from Mac OS, and I don't even notice that Parallels launched Windows to open it.

I hope this helps,

Prun.

HarryT

12-10-2007, 10:30 AM

Prun,

Just make sure that you don't try to do a firmware upgrade with Parallels. It doesn't get the USB timing quite right, and if you try to do a ROM update with it you'll probably end up "bricking" your Sony. Use a real Windows machine, or Bookcamp for reflashing the ROM.

igorsk

12-10-2007, 10:56 AM

Bookcamp? Is that where they send kids who can't read? :)

HarryT

12-10-2007, 11:02 AM

BooTCamp <-- Typo

igorsk

12-10-2007, 11:39 AM

Yeah, I know. Just thought it's a funny one :)

turtleclock

12-10-2007, 02:39 PM

Being a mac user and a PRS-505 owner, I'm quite satisfied with the Sony. I've been using the pielrf program available from this site to convert a lot of my text files, and then just copying them over to the Sony via usb. Working great so far. :-)

jmdor

12-10-2007, 06:29 PM

I'm way happier with my Kindle than with my Sony 500. It's very cool to be able to download a book wherever. I haven't even hooked it up to a computer yet! Highly recommend for mac users.

JSWolf

12-10-2007, 06:47 PM

The Kindle: Download a book, use up the battery.

Xenophon

12-11-2007, 12:55 AM

I'm a Mac user who's perfectly happy with a prs500, thanks to libprs500. There're plenty of multi-format books at Fictionwise and Baen. There's all of Project Gutenberg (including bunches of books pre-formatted here are MobileRead). Given how sucky the pricing is at Sony's store (even after the kindle-related price cuts), who needs 'em? The right pricing for novels is $6.00 quantity one, or $15.00 for six (c.f. Baen and their DRM-free pricing).

I can use libprs500 to convert just about any non-DRM'd book to Sony's format. The only time I ever hooked up my prs500 (or my wife's -- we're a two-reader family!) to a PC was for the initial registration and again for a firmware upgrade.

You can successfully use any of the current crop of readers with a Mac without worry.

Matt

12-13-2007, 05:53 PM

In what way is the iLiad not cross platform? There is the Companion Software which is Windows only, but (just about) no-one uses it. The WiFi file transfer uses a windows style network share, but Samba on Linux or OSX will work just as well.

Most of the iLiad interaction is via the USB cable, where it looks like a USB disk to any OS that supports it.

right - my main computer is a macbookpro - i just attach the Iliad to my USB port and copy documents and applications directly over. I've never even looked at the companion software.

Just4Fun

12-14-2007, 12:29 PM

In other words, you will probably be happy with whatever reader you decide to buy. Myself, I have a Macbook and a Kindle, but I live in the US and I couldn't afford to buy an Iliad though I like the larger screen.

The Kindle makes things so easy that even a non-techie can do it. There is no need for a computer. That is a nice feature in my household where everyone isn't into technology... They say, "Just give me something that works and doesn't require a lot of fussing around." <sigh>

trelanie123

12-29-2007, 07:05 PM

Hello out there, I'm new here. I have an iliad on the way .Trying to learn about it.Do you have to connect to a computor to download books?

HarryT

12-30-2007, 03:46 AM

You download books on your PC/Mac/Whatever, then transfer them to the iLiad via USB.

captaingeorges

02-07-2008, 01:55 PM

Hi all!

I am waiting for my cybook to come to the distant shores of Canada (Quťbec) through the great work of NAEB. Meanwhile I have made a lot of book purchases. I am using mostly fictionwise and the DRM Mobipocket format.

I am thinking very seriously about changing my laptop for a Mac. Is there any chance that in the near future Mobipocket reader could be available for the Mac ???

Does somebody has any "inside" information about this ???

Regards,

Georges

DaleDe

02-07-2008, 02:38 PM

Hi all!

I am waiting for my cybook to come to the distant shores of Canada (Quťbec) through the great work of NAEB. Meanwhile I have made a lot of book purchases. I am using mostly fictionwise and the DRM Mobipocket format.

I am thinking very seriously about changing my laptop for a Mac. Is there any chance that in the near future Mobipocket reader could be available for the Mac ???

Does somebody has any "inside" information about this ???

Regards,

Georges

If you look at the MobiPocket Forum there is certainly enough requests I think but no output yet.

dale

captaingeorges

02-07-2008, 02:46 PM

If you look at the MobiPocket Forum there is certainly enough requests I think but no output yet.

dale

Thanks Dale! I was almost sure the information was there somewhere!

Georges

TantricWarrior

05-20-2008, 03:28 AM

I'm a Mac user, but I always keep a PC around for these exact situations. I purchased the Sony 505 (has not arrived yet) and I plan on using the libprs500 software when I'm away from home with just my Mac. Plus I purchase a lot of books from Fictionwise as well. If I find that it's too painful on the Mac, I'll just install Windows on my Macbook. I'm hoping that if I need to buy a book when I only have my Mac, I can just buy the .lit version from Fictionwise and convert.

ēspent all day here (reading recommendations and reviews) and on Fictionwise Ė my "wishlist" is over 30 books now... a few don't come in "Secure Mobipocket" so....

ēdo I choose "Secure MS reader" format? I've d/l convertlitosx and it seems to run fine, now I gather I'll need MS Reader (& IE7, not Firefox... ugh) or something in order to d/l the book and then convertlit (explode) it - being extra-super-careful about path filename.

I know I'll have to be jumping back and forth between OSX & VPC in order to end up with something I can d/l to the CyBook. Which is easiest/recommended?
Sorry if this has been duplicated elsewhere. I've been pouring over the lists and can't seem to find the answer (w/o using darknet deDRMing things that can't be discussed here {good policy, BTW}) this thread has come closest to what I need. :thanks: in advance.

wallcraft

05-20-2008, 07:18 AM

For any Secure format other than MOBI you will need to strip the DRM. The traditional choice is LIT, because both it and MOBI are based on the OEB format. There are several options for conversion, for example (a) ConvertLIT to remove DRM, then lit2mobi (Mobiperl), or (b) ConvertLIT to explode into a OEB, then MobiPocket Creator (or Reader) on the resulting .opf file.

The only issue with LIT is the MS Windows requirement. If you can't get this to work, then ereader2html on a Secure eReader file is the other option. Then use html2mobi (Mobiperl) or MobiPocket Creator (or Reader) on the resulting .html file.

TantricWarrior

05-20-2008, 08:12 PM

For any Secure format other than MOBI you will need to strip the DRM. The traditional choice is LIT, because both it and MOBI are based on the OEB format. There are several options for conversion, for example (a) ConvertLIT to remove DRM, then lit2mobi (Mobiperl), or (b) ConvertLIT to explode into a OEB, then MobiPocket Creator (or Reader) on the resulting .opf file.

The only issue with LIT is the MS Windows requirement. If you can't get this to work, then ereader2html on a Secure eReader file is the other option. Then use html2mobi (Mobiperl) or MobiPocket Creator (or Reader) on the resulting .html file.

I am waiting for my cybook to come to the distant shores of Canada (Quťbec) through the great work of NAEB. Meanwhile I have made a lot of book purchases. I am using mostly fictionwise and the DRM Mobipocket format.

I am thinking very seriously about changing my laptop for a Mac. Is there any chance that in the near future Mobipocket reader could be available for the Mac ???

I'm using a Mac with my Cybook and it's just fine .. i have just started using windows tho with VM ware (there's also parallels) so i can use the mobipocket reader thingy now and i spose it is slightly more user-friendly